Bulls v Warriors: Teams
Bradford old boy Paul Deacon returns to the Grattan Odsal Stadium on Friday night looking to help Wigan stay perfect.
Last Updated: 05/03/10 4:37pm
Paul Deacon will make his return to Bradford on Friday night looking to help Wigan maintain their perfect start to the 2010 season.
Scrum-half Deacon spent 12 successful years with the Bulls, setting club records for goals an points, before joining his hometown team in November.
Now the 31-year-old heads back to the familiar surroundings of the Grattan Odsal Stadium looking to upset his former employers.
Bradford coach Steve McNamara believes the home fans will give Deacon a warm reception - though it will be down to business when the game kicks off.
Tremendous
"He will get a warm reception because he was tremendous for us," he said.
"He didn't really get a chance to say goodbye - because he left in the close season - and we will welcome him back and his family, but come Friday night it's business."
After starting the season with back-to-back defeats the Bulls had won their last two outings, including a 7-0 triumph away at Salford last Friday.
Rikki Sheriffe was forced off midway through the game at the Willows with a hamstring injury but the winger has been included in the 19-man squad.
Michael Platt has returned to full training but McNamara is not rushing back the Ireland international. Jason Crookes could come into the starting line-up.
Wigan head out on their travels hoping to maintain their unbeaten start under new coach Michael Maguire.
The Australian's reign has started with four straight wins, three of them coming at home, making them the only team still with a 100 percent record.
Iafeta Paleaaesina was left out of the squad for last week's 58-0 hammering of Catalans Dragons but the prop could be recalled against Bradford.
Full-back Cameron Phelps is not included by Maguire in a 19-man squad despite making a quicker recovery than expected from an ankle problem.
Amos Roberts will continue to deputise in the absence of his compatriot while second-rower Harrison Hansen is back to bolster the pack.
The Warriors defeated Bradford home and away last year, winning 20-14 at Odsal.
Bradford squad: Sykes, Langley, Sheriffe, Kopczak, Donaldson, Scruton, Menzies, Kearney, Godwin, L'Estrange, Halley, Nero, Lynch, Reardon, Hall, Crookes, Worrincy, Whitehead, Orford.
Wigan squad: Roberts, Gleeson, Carmont, Richards, S. Tomkins, Leuluai, Fielden, Riddell, Coley, Hansen, J. Tomkins, O'Loughlin, Prescott, Bailey, Paleaaesina, Deacon, O'Carroll, Mossop, Goulding.